FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The St James Small Business Loans
Tell me about the St James Small Business Loans
St James unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
The application for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive an instant response and funds may be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is a cash-based loan so you will know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company use, including the management of cash flow, company remodeling, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About the Larger St James Business Loans
What is the Larger St James Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the company needs to be in operation for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700,000. Your business must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A large company loan can be used for almost all company reason, such as company remodeling, buying new equipment or inventory, as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is necessary to access funding over $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge over assets, and could include the registration of this on the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than defining security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business borrower is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online registry run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants preference over private property assigned according to the date the registration of a security interest.
A caveat is a legal document filed to offer the legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting an enterprise loan of more than $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help smooth out the process. It is possible to apply for this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial assessment that includes you answering some financial health checks. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. Acceptance without condition is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you are offered could have different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may apply for an business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just fill out the online application in just a few minutes, and a dedicated company lending specialist will call you to help you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require ID details (valid Driver’s Licence) along with a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, and interim financials for the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summaries.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually provide an answer within an hour if you apply during quality company time and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements we can provide an answer within just an business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be likely to provide you with conditional pre-approval within about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way is to ensure you apply during normal business hours. You can also allow us to use the modern bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you send us the copies of bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
How soon will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually provide an answer in just one hour – as long as you submit your request within normal business times and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements we can offer the decision in just 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be able to offer you with conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The most effective method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use the sophisticated bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload duplicates of your banking statements it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of factors to determine your well-being of your company and the level of payments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances of your company.
When you apply for a set amount, we will consider a number of variables to determine your well-being of the business and the extent of repayments your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics for your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to request the business loans, we will assess the risk assessment of your company and offer you with a customised offer including the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. The company loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you will be aware of the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to factors like the amount of money borrowed, what company assets the funds will be used for in addition to the industry that the business operates in, the long the business has been running for, how long the business has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, and the general well-being as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our company loans. You’ll know exactly how much it is that you be required to pay, and when, starting from the first day. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as as long as you pay your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans no cost upfront or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated in establishing and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan earlier?
You may choose to pay back the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you are deciding to pursue this option, please talk to one of our helpful business loan specialists. They will offer you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. This will be calculated as the total of the principal remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of early payment and 1.5% of the remaining principal and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do repayments work?
To make sure that you don’t miss payment dates and to align your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Protecting your information, and knowing the ways we gather data, process, exchange and secure your information, is of paramount importance and is an essential element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to customer security and security. We employ a highly sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online. This allows us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when an business owner utilises an asset they own to get the loan. The asset could be a personal asset like the family home, or a company asset such as a vehicle as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of lenders, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it is the process of securing new financing by using the worth of the asset you already have.
Do I need security to get an company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security prior to the loan’s access However, we do need the personal guarantee. If you adhere to the terms of your loan (as specified in the loan contract) the security of assets will never be required. For loans over $150K generally, you can get personal ensure and security that is in the form the charge of assets.